I miss Jimmy Unger already, and I hadn't even seen the man in a few years.

I suspect I'm far from alone in that feeling.

Because whether you had random, intermittent contact with Jimmy over the years like I did when I was covering sports at Lebanon Valley College or were one of the LVC student-athletes that he was so beloved by, it was always a comfort to know that he was around.

And now that he's not around anymore It's rather disconcerting. And downright sad.

Jimmy passed away at the age of 84 at the Lebanon VA Medical Center on Wednesday, leaving behind his wife of almost 66 years, Esther, and three grown children. He also left behind a hole in the collective heart of the LVC athletic community that loved him and that he loved back.

His official job title in the athletic department that he served so loyally was visiting team greeter. But he was so much more than that. In many ways, he was LVC, as any room he entered was immediately filled with pride, joy and love for the school and all who made it their home over the years.

Including those student-athletes, many of whom came to regard him as a second grandfather for his stern but loving ways.

"I can tell you first-hand that Jimmy had a huge impact on so many athletes and coaches -- both LVCs and visiting teams," former women's basketball coach Todd Goclowski said. "When visiting coaches or officials ask me about LVC, they all inevitably bring up Jimmy.

"Jimmy was one-of-a-kind. He certainly was a man of a different generation, but also a gentleman for every era. And that's how I will remember him."

It's how many others will remember him, too, including LVC men's basketball coach Brad McAlester and former players and current college assistants Joe Meehan (Bucknell) and J.D. Byers (Virginia Commonwealth), who each took to Twitter this week to express their gratitude to Unger for his support over the years.

Condolences to the Unger family with the Passing of Jimmy Unger, long time LVC team greeter and beloved supporter of LVC sports!! Truly one of the good guys with a heart full of gold. Will sadly be missed!! Rest In Peace Jimmy! pic.twitter.com/VGk8x2SKab

If Jimmy had favorites, though, it was probably the LVC women's basketball teams of the early 2010s that made five straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Jimmy loved not only their success, but their spirit, because it was a spirit that he also had - loving, and caring but also fiercely loyal to the group and uncompromising about what was right and what was not.

It was something I found out firsthand after a game during one of those seasons.

As was often the case, Jimmy was in the hallway outside the locker room as i waited for Goclowski to emerge from his postgame chat with his team.

Jimmy approached and wanted to discuss something I had written in a previous article. He wasn't happy.

In that article on an LVC blowout win, I had made a reference to 'garbage time', which most sports fans know is that time in a game when all the starters have been pulled and the subs are in to finish out a game that is no longer competitive.

Well, Jimmy thought the reference to garbage time was disrespectful and insulting to those players who were in the game at that point. Maybe it was, but I certainly didn't intend it that way. It was perhaps a lazy way to write it, but nothing more.

When he wasn't at LVC, you could find Jimmy Unger at community events like the Annville Memorial Day Parade.(Photo: Photo courtesy of Jeremy Long)

Still, Jimmy made it clear he didn't want to see it again. OK,Jimmy, you got it.

Of course, he didn't stay mad at me. I doubt he ever stayed mad at anybody.

And certainly, it was almost impossible for anyone, especially the student-athletes he cared so much for to ever be mad at him.

How they felt about Jimmy is probably best represented by former women's basketball player Caitlin Murphy's post on her Facebook page following Jimmy's passing:

"RIP- Jimmy Unger. You were our number 1 fan, my favorite birthday singer, and my second grandpa. Thank you for all that you did to make my LVC College experience so special. My teammates and I were so lucky to have your full support and encouragement. I will miss your humor, your sass, our lunches and the commentary you had during sporting events- you will always be part of our team. God Bless you! "

God already blessed Jimmy and all who knew him. It's not often you meet an unforgettable character like Jimmy Unger, so when you do you try to remember as much about them as you can.

More than his disappointment in the 'garbage time' article I personally will remember most Jimmy's antics at LVC softball games. At some of those games, Jimmy would judge the between-innings music that was played by holding up numbers on a 1 to 10 scale to express his approval or lack thereof.

On those occasions when Jimmy didn't like the music being played he would scrunch up his face a little go through his number cards and pull out a 1.

Cracked me up every time. Still does.

It's sad that Jimmy's gone but I believe he'd want us all to keep laughing. And of course, cheer like hell for LVC.